Product Information

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Format: DRM Free ePubVendor: David C. CookPublication Date: 2013

ISBN: 9781434707260ISBN-13: 9781434707260

Publisher's Description

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Miri Brayden teeters on a razor's edge between placating and enraging her brother, whom she depends upon for support. Yet if his anger is unleashed, so is his madness. Miri must keep his descent into lunacy a secret, or he'll be committed to an asylumand she'll be sent to the poorhouse.

Ethan Goodwin has been on the run all of his lifefrom family, from the law ... from God. After a heart-changing encounter with the gritty Reverend John Newton, Ethan would like nothing more than to become a man of integrityan impossible feat for an opium addict charged with murder.

When Ethan shows up on Miri's doorstep, her balancing act falls to pieces. Both Ethan and Miri are caught in a web of lies and deceitfallacies that land Ethan in prison and Miri in the asylum with her brother. Only the truth will set them free.

Author Bio

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Michelle Griep has been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and crayons. She resides in the frozen tundra of Minnesota where she teaches history and writing classes for a local high school co-op.

"A Heart Deceived," by Michelle Griep is a work of historical fiction. It is also a book of faithfulness, love and mental illness. Sometimes, when we work so hard to live a life of deceit everything falls apart.

This is what happens to Miri as she struggles to hide the truth about what is happening to her brother. After being brow-beaten, mistreated, and ridiculed by her brother for so long, Miri longs for some love and human kindness. That can't be too much to ask for, can it? As her brother arranges her marriage to a man she abhors she tries to figure out if there can ever be an escape for her.

"A Heart Deceived" is an easy to read, clean novel. It is well written, full of God's faithfulness, and it held my attention all the way through.

I received this book from The Book Club Network in exchange for my honest review.

Reading "A Heart Deceived" was like embarking on a treasure hunt; finding gems hidden deep within its pages, precious nuggets of truth and inspiration where least expected, and discovering characters whose lasting value had been buried under layers of sediment after experiencing grotesque and unsavory experiences. When the lives of a redeemed reprobate and lovely sister of a deranged interim vicar coincide, a story erupts that exudes mystery, mayhem, and highly unlikely romance.

It is 1795 in Bedfordshire, England and Miriall Brayden is hideously trapped in a rectory with her brother Roland, whose sanity is precariously hanging by a thread . Mourning the whereabouts of her younger brother, she is surprised one evening when a total stranger, sick and near death arrives at the back door, knowing her name and that of her missing brother. While innocently bestowing kindness, refuge and nourishment, Miri is inextricably drawn to the man, whose speech and mannerisms are that of a gentleman, but whose appearance is likened to someone who has lived a cruel existence on city streets.

"God works powerfully lad, but for the most part gradually and gently"; the Reverend John Newton's prophetic words to Ethan Goodwin. After Ethan experiences tragedy and finds forgiveness through salvation, he flees London desperate to find Will Brayden's sister. Never mind that his friend failed to mention that Miri was breathtakingly beautiful, wore a head of riotous curls, had porcelain smooth skin, or spoke words of kindness like an angel. Over time however, nothing at this rectory is as it seems. When Ethan's past comes knocking at the door and Roland Brayden is accused of unmentionable acts, Miri finds herself caught in a tight web of mystery and deceit which threatens her very existence and that of her newfound faith.

"Sometimes faith is a moment-by-moment thing"; Ethan's words to Miri just before their love and their future is nearly extinguished. What will it take to bring all things into the light of discovery? Michelle Griep has written an extraordinary story which deserves to be savored and quite possibly read over and over and over again.

I loved this book. As it states in the description, Miriall (Miri) Brayden walks a fine line between keeping the peace and her sanity. The author does a very good job of showing us the roiling emotions in Miri's life and you can't help but feel for her circumstances. You are afraid when she is; you are angry when she is; you are happy when she is. Ethan's character is charming in a roguish way. He is enough of a gentleman to hint at his past upbringing, but his appearance and mannerisms speak of a life on the streets. The only complaint I have about Ethan is his "change" was a bit rushed. I felt like I needed more of his background to understand that he could just believe so quickly after the life he had been living.

This book is what some might consider "preachy." However, I think that fits the setting. Ethan comes to know God from a Reverend. I would expect a Reverend to preach the gospel and speak a lot about it. Miri lives in a rectory with a Bishop and her brother, a former minister of God. I would also expect to hear a lot about God from their characters. I didn't think it was over-done as some novels tend to be, though, so I was ok with it.

Overall, Michelle does a great job of conveying her message: to trust in God, no matter what. Her characters are written in a way that the reader can relate to. The descriptions of the asylum and the people in it makes the reader both disgusted for the place they live in and sympathetic with their plight.

After reading Michelle's previous book Undercurrent, I was expecting nothing less than a great read. Well, I was not disappointed. Michelle has definitely stepped it up a bit with this new release. A bit on the darker side, but so intriguing and well written. There is so much going on in A Heart Deceived, you may ask "Will I get lost?" The answer is no! Michelle does an excellent job bringing all the different aspects together and making a perfectly harmonious story_..Murder, addictions, insanity, uncertainty, heartbreak_..add to that, forgiveness, love, compassion and heroism. You will also get a close up look at what went on inside Asylums in those days_.so sad.

Best of all, Michelle brings the power of God into her story in a way that will give you goosebumps. I truly think the story ended too soon. I would love to see a sequel to this book. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a story that stirs the soul and makes your heart pound.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley, but was under no obligation to give a positive review.

A new-to-me-author, this was my first introduction with Michelle Griep's writing. This woman really can write! Usually I'm not so much into books with a sort of Ã¢â¬Ëdark' setting and that's why I looked at this book for at least three times and every time decided not to request it for review, but then I did it anywayÃ¢â¬âand boy, am I glad I did!

The author has a unique way with words that drew me into the story right awayÃ¢â¬âon the first page I sat next to Miri in church and reluctantly had to let my new friend go on the last.

The descriptions are so rich and full, I could almost feel, hear, smell, and touch them. The emotions splattered from the pagesÃ¢â¬âfear, despair, unfairness, hope, love, romance!

Extremely well written, excellent research, and a brilliant plot!!

*Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy through NetGalley.*

Author/Artist Review

Tell us a little about yourself. I hear voices. Loud. Incessant. And very real. Which basically gives me two options: choke back massive amounts of Prozac or write fiction. I chose the latter.

What was your motivation behind this project? To gain a deeper understanding of the insidiousness of deception and root it out of not only my own life, but to encourage others to do the same.

What do you hope folks will gain from this project? The realization that sometimes a lie need only be spoken once for it to be believed as truth. We should examine the "truths" we believe in light of Scripture.

How were you personally impacted by working on this project? In my research, I was appalled at the harsh treatment of early nineteenth century mental health patients--practices committed oftentimes on those who were known to be perfectly sane, in the name of following orders. It made me question what 'orders' I follow and why.